BAVO
BAVO researches the political dimension of art, architecture and spatial planning.
BAVO is a research office that was set up in 2002 by Gideon Boie and Matthias Pauwels and it is based in Brussels and Rotterdam. Both Boie and Pauwels were born in Bruges (1975) and studied architecture first (Higher Architecture Institute Sint Lucas, Ghent ) and then philosophy (Erasmus University Rotterdam).
BAVO’s core activities are three-fold. In the first place, BAVO carries out fundamental research into the political dimension of art, architecture and spatial planning. Research subjects from recent years include the restructuring of problem districts, the imbedded role of artists and architects in urban developments, the new engagement within architecture, the hype around the creative city and the neo-liberalisation of spatial planning in the EU.
In the second plane BAVO communicates the results of its research within specialised circles and organises debates and symposiums about them. And finally BAVO also takes part in the public debate about social developments and issues that are of its interest. Though these interventions, BAVO attempts to redefine the traditional role of the theoretician.
BAVO is an independent office. It initiates projects itself and it also works together with public and private institutions. In 2004 and 2005 BAVO worked out of the offices of the Theory Department of the interdisciplinary research institute of the Jan van Eyck Academy in Maastricht .
Recent publications include: Cultural Activism Today. The Art of Over-identification (Episode Publishers, 2007) and Urban Politics Now. Re-imagining Democracy in the Neoliberal City (NAi Publishers, 2007).
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